Supporting stand or rack for bicycles



(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

W. H. WALLINGPORD.

SUPPORTING STAND 0R RACK FOR BIGYULES.

vNo. 581,499.

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

MENTUR W @W 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

,W. H. WALLINGPORD $UPPORTING STAND 0R RACK FOR BIOYGLES. No. 581,499.

Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

WTNESSES (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' W. H. WALLINGFORD.

SUPPORTING STAND 0R RACK FOR BIGYGLES.

9 Cu 5 9 w I m E v M 4 T Q J 5 v is? 5 no r; I E 0 2 0 H" V Z N z W sPETERS ca. PNOTO-LIYMQ. wuwmowu o c N-lTE STATES- i ATENT Fries.

\VILLIAM H. WALLINGFORD, OF NEWVPORT, KENTUCKY.

SUPPORTING STAND OR RACK FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 581,499, dated April 27,1897.

Application filed September 19, 1896. Serial No. 606,449. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WALLING- FORD, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State ofKentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSupporting Stands or Racks for Bicycles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to stands or racks for supporting one or morebicycles; and it consists in the novel features of construction,comprising locking and supporting devices, which are hereinafter fullydescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a broken sectional elevationshowing my improvement in its preferred form, interior views of a pairof locking devices beingillustrated with their backs or rear platesremoved in order to present their coin-freed apparatus and boltmechanism to View, one bolt mechanism being at rest or free from lockingengagement with a wheel catch-arm and the other in action or lookingengagement with another wheel-catch arm; Fig. 2, a plan view (of the toponly) of one of the lock-casings to show the coin-slot and thepeculiarly-formed opening or slot for the operating-handle of thewheel-catch arm; Fig. 3, a front elevation of a completesupporting-stand having three locking-stalls and embodying my inventionin a modified form; Fig. 4, a plan view of my stand, showing the mannerin which the bicycles are preferably placed in the stalls, thewheelsshown being simply the fore ones of three bicycles, one enteringfrom one side and the other two from the opposite side; Fig. 5, a brokensectional elevation showing an interior view of a lock device coveringsaid modified form and looking from the front, the lock mechanism beingshown in engagement and as it appears when a wheel or bicycle is securedin the stand; Fig. 6, a transverse section of Fig. 5, looking to theright, on a vertical line at a; with the key; Fig. 7, another transversesection of Fig. 5 on a vertical line y y; and Fig. 8, a plan view of thecoin-collecting receptacle or trough, which is placed beneath said lockdevices.

A represents the base orbottom of the stand, having concavities orguideways a. for the wheels a a a to rest in. Each of said wheels (shownin Fig. 4) represents the fore wheel of a bicycle,those a and a? beingintroduced from one side, which, for convenience, may be termed thefront, and the other, 61 being introduced or placed in the stand fromthe other side, which, for convenience, may be termed the rear, so thatthe stand may be compactly built and the handle-bars, pedals, and otherlaterally-projecting parts of the bicycle may clear each other and haveample room to conveniently enter and depart from the stand.

B 13 represent a pair of uprights, one at either side the base A,supported thereby midway between its ends and having an upperconnecting-bar b, from which latter conveniently hangs a sign-board 1),containing advertising matter or directions of any kind.

0 represents a flat cross-bar which binds or strengthens the twouprights B B near their upper ends and supports one or more lock devicesD, the number corresponding to the number of bicycles to be accommodatedby the stand. In the drawings I show two lockstalls in Fig. 1 and threelock-stalls in Figs. 3 and 4, but the number most popular for ordinaryuse is six, as that provides a stand which is sufficiently large to comewithin the usual space available where the stands are to be used and tosuit the average patronage of such fixtures.

0 represents the lid or front plate of the lock, which is secured inplace by means of nuts 0', engaging the threaded studs or contractedends 0 of the horizontal posts C C and which latter project a suitabledistance apart from the back plate D within the casing. The outer endsof the studs 0 are riveted or flattened down when the nuts are in placeto prevent surreptitious removal of the front plate and tampering withthe lock mechanism within. An ordinary keyhole-slot is provided in eachfront plate 0 for the entrance and withdrawal of the keys.

E represents a sliding bolt or lock-bar comprising the usual bolt-platehaving a bolthead 6 and bolt-tail e, the said head and tail engaging inslots pierced in the rear ends of the posts 0 O and sliding back andforth therein for operation for either looking or unlocking purposes.

E E represent a pair of pendent lugs on the lower edge of the lock-bar,against and between which the bit of the key F operates to either throwor retract said bolt.

G represents a pivoted tumbler or gravitating lever mounted on the postC and haw ing a dog or lug g at one end fitting a notch d in the upperedge of the lock-bar or boltplate, from which notch the dog must bereleased before the bolt can be thrown. The other end of the lever Glies under a chute or raceway G, which is mounted or set at aninclination from the top of the casing, said top being provided with atransverse slot g, leading to the upper end of said raceway and in whicha coin is inserted, which coin passes down said raceway and falls on thetumbler, and as said coin overbalances the hook or dog end of thetumbler the said dog is released from the notch in the lock-bar, andthen the latter may be shot forward by the action of the key for lockingengagement with the slot h of a vertical bar II. The preferred form ofbar H is shown in Fig. 1, in which a hook or curved arm 7t isconstructed at its lower end, and a manipulating or pull bar I ispivotally connected or hinged to its upper end. The straight portion orbody of vertical bar II passes upward through a hole in the flatcross-bar O, and thence through a hole in the bottom of the casing wellback in the corner of said casing, and the inner end of the pullbar I ismade fiat or contracted, while the body thereof is round incross-section, so that said round body shall engage the enlarged eyeportion i and the said flat end shall engage the slot or contractedportion 2" of the keyhole-shaped opening in the back corner of the topplate of the casing.

I is a transverse grip-loop or handle at the upper or outer end of thepull-bar I, which enables the operator to conveniently draw the bar IIupward for bringing its hook end 7t into locking engagement with thefore wheel of a bicycle placed in the stand. Said handle also preventsthe hook-bar ll dropping down from the casing when the bolt isdisengaged therefrom and the bicycle is released. lVhen the hook-bar isin locked position, the pull-bar I is set at an inclination, as shown inthe right-hand lock in Fig. 1, the lower flattened portion and itsshoulder 2' engaging the contracted or narrow slot portion L of saidkeyhole-shaped opening, the latter being best shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that in Fig. 1 I show two locking devices side by side,one being locked and the other unlocked, which fully illustrates theoperation of n'lyinvention. It will also be seen in the locked device(to the left hand) that the tail end of the lock bar or bolt lies closeto the under side of the free end of the tumbler, which relation isintended and provided so that the coin when it initially lodges on thesaid end of the tumbler will not at once slide off of same before thekey can be turned for projecting or advancing the bolt forward intolocking engagement with shot entirely across for locking engagement withsaid bar. The rear end of the lock-bar thus prevents the tumblerdescending too far until said locking engagement takes place, and thecoin is not really released or does not fall in to the straightdown-chute and thereceptacle below until said locking engagement iseffected, and the coin thus performs its intended function of enablingthe operator to lock the device and not be wasted or lost to his usebefore he can effect his said purpose. In Fig. 1 I show a coin in theseveral lock devices, so that the said operation thereof can be fullyunderstood.

The slot is made in the bar II at right angles with the handle 1, thelatter being in line with the lower hook end it, and thus the operatorreadily determines when he shall drop his coin'in the slot 9 above, theresting of the pull-bar in the contracted slot portion of the keyhole-o'iening, as aforesaid, also assuring him that the slot h in saidvertical bar II is in line for the reception of the bolt-head. Thisconstruction makes a positive and easy action of the parts certain atall times. The key used in my lock device is an especially safe one, asit is made hollow practically throughout its barrel which is unusual inkeys of the kind, and a very long pin F is provided, on which the keyturns, as best seen in Fig. (i. The casing is made deep at its lowerportion to contain the necessary coinfreeing devices, which areextremely simple and their number of elements reduced to a minimum,which enables them to operate readily and to be produced quickly and atthe lowest possible expense, all of which is most important in thecarrying out of an i11- vention of this character.

In order to prevent the improper withdrawal of the key when the lock isunlocked, I secure a stationary guard-plate .l' in front of the lowerlug portion of the lock-bar, as best seen in Fig. 5, which plate isstretched between the two posts 0 C and suitably attached thereto at itsopposite ends. The bit of the key lies between said guard-plate and theback plate of the casing, and the key is still further protected fromimproper withdrawal (when the lock is unlocked) by means of a shoulderor projection 6 constructed at the lower end of lug E which projectionis disposed. forwardly in the path of the keybit and forms anobstruction against further revolution thereof in that direction, asbest seen in the left-hand lock in Fig. 1.

K represents a longitudinal tube mounted directly beneath the bot-tom ofthe lock-casing and just forward of the flat cross-bar O, as best seenin Figs. 6 and 7. This tube has a longitudinal slot L out along itsupper side,

(see Fig. 8,) which engages over adovetailrib or formation M,constructed along the bottom of the several lock-casin gs, (see Fig. 6,)and is thereby detachably slid and held in position.

Z represents each one of a number of transverse slots made in said tube,which cross said longitudinal slot L, and each registers with atransverse opening or slot m, made in the bottom of each of thelock-casings in line with and under the discharge end of the raceway orchute G to receive the dropping coin, said tube K forming a trough orreceptacle for the coins which are dropped into the stand or rack inorder to effect the locking operation.

A vertical guideway or open box N is provided within the casing toproperly receive the coin from the tray end of the dog tumbler or leverG and direct it to the opening mand thence into the receptacle K below.One .end of receptacle or tube K is provided with a cap 70, which isscrewed thereto and then permanently riveted in place, as best shown atin Fig. 8, and a short shouldered plug L is detachably fitted into theother end. Plug L is provided with a pair of holes Z, which registervertically with a pair of holes Z made in the tube K, and a staple orheaded bar n is passed through said holes Z and Z to receive a padlock Oat its lower end, (which has a hole therein to accommodate the bow ofsaid padlock,) as best seen in Fig.5. Access to the coin-receptacle isreadily gained by simply unlocking and removing the padlock 0, thenremoving the staple or headed bar it, then removing the plug L by takingconvenient hold of its outer flanged end, and then slightly tilting thestand (which is not necessarily very heavy) or introducing a scraperwhen it is desired to remove the coin from said receptacle.

In the modified form seen in Figs. 3 and 5 the vertical bars H are longones and form upright rods or pickets whose upper ends do not projectthrough any top openings in the lock-casin g, as they do in thepreferred form, and neither have they any top handle-bars; but they haveeach a slot 77. near their upper ends for the reception of the bolt-headin the locking engagement thereof, and a lateral bar or arm h, whichtakes the place of the hook-arm of the preferred form, and engages thefelly of the fore wheel about mid-height, all the arms on all thevertical bars H being shown as they appear when in lookingengage1nent(but with no wheels shown therein) in Fig. 3.

In the operation of my device the vertical bars of the preferred form(when unlocked) are dropped or remain normally down into their lowermostpositions and hang bythe handles of their pull-bars I, and those of themodified form have their lower ends resting on the base A, free to turna quarter of a revolution thereon; but when locked those of thepreferred form are raised to their uppermost positions, as seen in Figs.1 and 5. I

To lock a bicycle in the stand or rack, it is placed with its fore wheelresting in one of the'grooves a in base A, the preferred form of lockdevice enabling the wheel to go clear across the base, as seen in Fig.at. The vertical bar H is then turned or brought into locking engagementwith the felly of the wheel. A coin (say one cent, for convenience) isdropped into the proper upper slot g and finds its way at once to thegravitating lever or tumbler G, which latter rocks on its bearings andreleases its dog from engagement with the notch in the upper edge of thelockbar, at which time the key is turned to throw the said lock-bar,whose head shoots into the slot of the vertical bar H, and then the keyis withdrawn. The engagement of the bolthead with the slot of thevertical bar prevents the turning of the latter in either direction ordisengagement from the wheel, and thus retains the bicycle duly lockedand supported in the stand, from which it can be readily released bysimply introducing and operating the key and thereby retracting thebolt, when the vertical bar can be turned and its lockarm released fromthe wheel-felly. WVhen the lock-bar has been retracted, the key cannotbe withdrawn nor a Wheel locked in the stand without first dropping abolt releasing or freeing coin in the slot.

It will be seen that the bolt cannot be fully shot or locked unless thevertical wheel-lockbar slot is in line therewith for fastening the wheelin place, nor can the key be removed unless a suitable coin is placed inthe ma- I .chine to free the dog or detent devices, nor

ceptacle enables the read y repair or replacingof parts of the device,and in the eventany one should make a duplicate key for the purpose oftaking a bicycle in future and which is not his own the locks of onerack or stand could be readily exchanged for those of another and placedelsewhere, so that he would not know where to locate the lock of whichhe had a duplicate key, as all the locks are interchangeable, and hewould thereby be successfully thwarted from his nefarious object ofremoving a machine not belonging to him. The frame and vertical bars Hare preferably made of hollow tubing or gas-pipe, which gives the standboth lightness and strength and also economy in manufacture.

I claim 1. In a lock supporting-stand for bicycles,

.the combination of an upright open frame having a suitable base; acoin-freed lock mechanism supported by the vertical side bars of saidframe; a vertical rotatory bar having an outer arm which engages one ofthe Wheels of the bicycle for retaining the latter in said frame, andalso having a slot IIO near its upper end within the lock-casing for thefastening engagement of the key-operated lock-bolt; and acoin-receptacle beneath the lock devices; substantially as herein setforth. 2. In a lock supportingstand for bicycles, the combination with agrooved base having a pair of upright side bars and a top crossbar,which together constitute a suitable open frame; of an inner cross-barsupport-ed by said side bars near their upper ends; one or morecoin-freed lock devices inclosed in casi ngs and supported by said innercross-bar; a vertical, rotatory bar having an outer lateral arm whichinterlocks with the fore wheel of the bicycle, and also having a slotnear its upper end which lies within the lock-casing, and said slot isengaged by the bolt-head of the key-operated lock-bar for securelyfastening the rotatory bar against turning and consequent disengagementfrom the bicyclewheel; a coin-receptacle having a longitudinal slot outalong its upper side and detachably supported beneath the bottom of thelock-casin gs by means of a dovetail rib or formation constructed onsaid bottom of the lock-casings and which engages the said 1011-gitudinal slot, and a suitable locking-head or lock-entrance to saidcoin-receptacle, substantially as herein set forth. A

3. In alock supporting stand or rack for bicycles and other purposes, acoin-freed lock device composed of an inclosing box or casing having apair of internal horizontal posts; a bolt or lock-bar having head andtail ends which engage rear openings made in said posts for thereciprocating or sliding movement thereof,and also havinga pair ofpendent lugs, between and against which the bit of a suitable keyoperates for throwing and retracting it; a gravitating lever or tumblerpivotally mounted on one of said posts and having a dog or detent-lug atone end which normally engages a notch in the upper edge of the lockbarwhen the lock is unlocked; an inclined raceway or chute leading from acoin-entrance slot in the top of the casing to the free end of thedog-tumbler, to guide the coin, for actuating it; a suitablecoin-receptacle; and a slotted, upright bar whose upper end is passedupward through an opening in the lower corner of the casing, opposite tothat of the coin down-chute, and is engaged by the head of saidlock-bar, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein setforth. 4. In a lock supporting stand or rack for bicycles, thecombination of a suitable open frame; a vertical rotatory bar having alateral arm or hook at its lower end which has looking engagement withthe fore wheel of the bicycle; a coin-freed locking device supported bysaid frame above the wheel, and having an opening in the bottom of itsinclosing casin g for the upward passage or accommodation of the upperend of said rotatory bar, which latter has a socket or slot therein forthe reception of the lock-bolt head when thrown; a pull-bar hinged atone end to the upper end of said rotatory wheel lock-bar and havingamanipulating bar-supporting handle at its outer end, the inner end ofsaid pull-bar being shouldered and contracted for engagement with thenarrow portion of a key-slotshaped opening in the top of said casing, ina vertical line with said rotatory bar; and a suitable coin receptacle,substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a lock supporting stand or rack for bicycles, the combination witha suitable frame and a coin-freed lock device supported thereby, of alongitudinally-slotted coin receptacle or trough detachably supportedbeneath the lock-device casing by means of a dovetail connectiontherewith, and having a cross-slot which registers with a transverseslot or opening in the bottom of the said casing for the downwardpassage andfinal lodging of the dog releasing or actuating coin; a

cap rigidly secured at one end of said coinreceptacle; a detachable plugfitting the other end of said receptacle; and a suitable locking devicefor said plug, substantially as herein set forth.

6. In a lock supporting stand or rack for bicycles and other purposes, acoin-freed lock device comprising a lock-bar, which latter has a pair ofpendent lugs constructed on its lower edge and one of said lugs has anextension hook or projection thereon; a guardplate mounted on a pair ofposts in the lockcasing and covering the face of the opening or spacebetween said pendent lugs at all times, whereby a safety device isprovided which prevents the surreptitious withdrawal of thelock-bar-actuating key; and suitable coin-freeing mechanism to permitthe operation of said key for the locking movement, substantially asherein set forth.

In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

W. H. WVALLINGFORD. WVitnesses:

W. P. BIDDLE, JOHN E. J ONES.

